News

  • By Laura Robertson
  • Posted:
  • Events, News

Boys Home to Host Job Fair at Kanawha Café on January 25

 

Boys Home is hosting a job fair on Wednesday, January 25 at Kanawha Café in downtown Covington, Virginia, located at 214 West Main Street, Covington, VA 24426. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m. Street parking is available on Main Street in front of the cafe. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. The current positions available are full-time houseparents and part-time/full-time teachers. Please pass this information along to friends and family. If there are any questions, contact Human Resource Manager Becky Skidmore at rskidmore@boyshomeofva.org or 540-965-7705. Come join a team of dedicated and caring professionals who make a difference in the lives of each student at Boys Home by helping them become productive members of society.

Click here – Application for Employment

  • By Laura Robertson
  • Posted:
  • News

Boys Home Welcomes Michael Talkington to the Maintenance Team

 

Boys Home of Virginia is pleased to welcome Michael (Mike) Talkington as a maintenance worker. Mike has spent many years working in Covington, Virginia, previously being employed by the Alleghany County Public School System. He spent 26 years working in maintenance while also coaching wrestling and track over the course of ten years. Mr. Talkington stated that he had always had an interest in Boys Home and got connected to the organization through Director of Education, Teresa Johnson, and middle school teacher, Susie Keller.

Since starting his employment, Mr. Talkington says, “It’s good to help young people and get them on the right track,” when asked about his time at Boys Home. He has an appreciation for the unique school environment, providing more overall flexibility for students and staff. He also commented on the power of watching a student transform during their time here. Mike looks forward to being able to contribute to more grounds improvements, helping the campus feel even more like home for the students. Boys Home is grateful to have staff like Mr. Talkington who, no matter what their role is on campus, take pride in investing in students and their journeys.

  • By Laura Robertson
  • Posted:
  • Events, News

Winner of the Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm Gift Basket Giveaway Announced

Congratulations to Angie Via of Staunton, Virginia, for winning the 2022 Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm gift basket giveaway! During the holiday season, all visitors at the Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm were entered into a drawing for a chance to win this festive gift basket. The farm is in West Augusta, Virginia, and sells various types of Christmas trees, wreaths and swags from Thanksgiving to Christmas each year. When you shop your holiday needs here, you help financially support a mission that helps students strive toward becoming positively contributing members of their communities. 

  • By Laura Robertson
  • Posted:
  • Events, News

Boys Home Meets November Fundraising Goal!

 

Boys Home of Virginia met their match funding goal for the month of November! For the third year in a row, Boys Home qualified to receive a $25,000 matching grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. Any online donation made through www.givetoboyshome.org  from $1 to $500 was matched 1:1 during the month. This year they also offered a special 2:1 match for online donations received on November 29, which was Giving Tuesday.   

Thanks to the generous donors, Boys Home not only met, but exceeded their goal of $25,000. They also surpassed previous totals raised on Giving Tuesday.  As a surprise gesture at the end of the event, the Jesse Ball duPont Fund awarded Boys Home with a $12,000 bonus!

All donations received for this match program will be used to continue the mission of Boys Home. Donations help provide food, shelter, clothing, education, and spiritual development for all their residents. The administration, staff and trustees are very grateful for the overwhelming response received during this fundraiser. For more information about Boys Home, visit the website at www.boyshomeofva.org or call Sandra Scruggs at 540-965-7715 if you have any questions or would like to make an end-of-year contribution to support young men in need of a second chance.

About Boys Home of Virginia: Boys Home of Virginia strives to help young men ages 6-18 develop their potential. At Boys Home, residents have access to the tools they need to grow into responsible, contributing citizens and successful adults.

About the Jessie Ball duPont Fund: The Jessie Ball duPont Fund was established to provide temporary relief to individuals, organizations, and communities in Florida, Virginia, and Delaware. At its heart, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund is deeply committed to placemaking and inclusive growth in the communities that were important to Mrs. duPont.

  • By Laura Robertson
  • Posted:
  • News

Traditions Old and New Made this Christmas Season Shine at Boys Home

Brown Cottage (Overall Winner in the 2022 Competition)

Brown Cottage (Overall Winner in the 2022 Competition)

The Christmas season at Boys Home began with several special chapel services to set the tone for December. Throughout the excitement of the month, we wanted the students to truly remember the reason for the season. After one chapel service, students collectively made advent wreaths for their cottages. The advent wreaths marked the countdown to Christmas Sunday with a designated candle lit each week.

After dinner on December 1, students decorated cookies and cards with festive music playing in the background. Greene Cottage was awarded the “best decorated” cookie in the competition. A new tradition began this year with Boys Home’s student council participating in the Clifton Forge and Covington Christmas parades. The float for the Covington Christmas Parade had a nativity theme and featured many students dressed as shepherds. Both students and staff members were excited to learn that the float was awarded first place in the religious category by Old Towne Covington. Senior Mulu Slawta, student council president, excelled in his leadership skills of planning and executing both parade floats.

On December 12, the highly anticipated campus Christmas party took place for students, staff and guests. As a delightful plated dinner was wrapping up, Santa entered the room. He was available for photos and well wishes for all in attendance. After dinner and pictures with Santa, the students moved into the game portion of the evening. While the students were busy with games, the four judges began judging the cottage decoration competition. The competition began in 1966 with cottages being judged on outside decorations, inside decorations, Christmas trees and overall. The four judges were from Ingevity, a proud supporter of Boys Home. The designated judges were Tad Robertson, Peggy Cash, Jessica Gibson and Sarah Maydian.

A new holiday tradition was added to the Boys Home’s Christmas calendar. On December 14, Executive Director Chris Doyle and his wife Katherine hosted a Christmas open house. Staff and students were welcomed into the Doyle’s to enjoy food, drinks and socializing. All in attendance were invited to gather outside for a countdown to the lighting of the leg lamp. The Doyle’s have a replica of the leg lamp from the movie “A Christmas Story” in their front window. The house became dark and then a large cheer came over the crowd as light beamed from the lamp. As the crowd gathered, the winners of the cottage competition were announced. The competition winners were:  1st place overall – Brown Cottage, 1st place Christmas tree decorations – Greene Cottage, 1st place inside decorations – Brown Cottage and 1st place outside decorations – Sam’s Cottage. The magic of Christmas was felt by many on “the hill” throughout the month of December. For all the individuals and supporters of Boys Home who made this Christmas season magical, we are truly grateful!